Scot Racing Team presentation in Milan

Scot Racing Team presentation in Milan

Andrea Dovizioso's Scot Racing Team was presented yesterday at the San Siro stadium, in Milan. The 125 World Champion moves up to the quarter litre class this year, teaming up with Japanese rookie Yuki Takahashi, while Fabrizio Lai and Mike di Meglio spearhead the structure's 125 effort, known as the Kopron Racing World Team.

"The first contact with the 250cc bike was quite a change for me, as I was used to a lighter bike in the 125 class," explained Dovizioso, who will ride a factory-spec Honda RSW this season. "The 250 is more powerful – it's a great bike, but it's also heavier and I had to change the way I ride."
"During the winter, I worked really hard with the team, and I'm happy with the results we achieved. I'm now able to maintain a steady pace and I really got to understand how this great Honda RSW works."
"However, it doesn't mean the Championship will be easy. This year, the 250 field will be stronger than ever. It will be very hard to beat the Champion, Dani Pedrosa, who is quick and also has an advantage being lighter than most riders. There are also quick and experienced riders as De Puniet and Porto, on Aprilia, these guys are always at the front and seem really keen to go for the Championship."
"There are also riders like Alex de Angelis, Lorenzo and Barbera... There are many riders who can have a shot at the title and I hope to be amongst them. We still have room for improvement and that's encouraging, but on the other hand, we'll have to cope with the lack of data as we changed classes," added the Italian.
Last year, Yuki Takahashi entered the Camel Grand Prix of Japan, at Motegi, as a wildcard, and took fifth. His team consider him as the best Japanese rider of the class, but Takahashi remains cautious as 2005 will be his first full campaign at Grand Prix level.
"I know very well the Honda 250 RSW, as I worked on its development before winning the Japanese Championship with it. This year, the key will be learning the tracks, I will have to do it quickly if I want to be competitive," said the Japanese.
"During the last official tests, I was very comfortable with the team, even if there are still a few problems in terms of communication, but this is normal I guess. At Catalunya, every thing was new, but I could work on the set-up of the bike and collect data. In Jerez, I pushed harder and posted the ninth best lap, but I still have a long way to go and it's only the beginning of the Championship."